a nobody trying to love somebody...

So yesterday I posted a Facebook update that got some genuine criticism. At first I was shocked; I didn’t expect criticism, but after reading several of the comments I realized where it was coming from. It seemed that most of the commenters took issue with a gay man holding the position of pastor, (and maybe a few others with my, possibly over-aggressive charge to “shut up” long enough to listen to others.) 

Before you read on: If you’re looking for theological exposition or biblical proof of eldership, you can look those up here (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy & Titus). My view would be comparable to the general evangelical view on this topic. However, since the discussion of whether or not he should be a pastor was not my intention with the first post, I won’t make that my intention with this response either. 

Joe and I had just come from a local community forum organized by a fellow church planter in my neighborhood called the Capitol Hill Theology Pub. They meet monthly, have guest speakers of differing theological perspectives, a question and answer time, then table discussions. The room is filled with gays, straits, believers, unbelievers, agnostics, atheist, you name it, they’re there. The speaker was David Shull; a pastor in the United Church of Christ denomination. He and his partner were the first gay couple ordained in America, and have both been pastoring at UCC churches here in Washington for the past 18 years. As we’ve been diving into our neighborhood of Capitol Hill (The hub of the art & gay community in Seattle) relationally, it’s been a wonderful experience of meeting people of all backgrounds, religions, and orientations. Hearing their stories, getting to know them, and creating space for relationship to flourish so that the gospel can be lived out in faithful presence with our community, not separate from our community (Jer. 29:4–7). We are here planting gospel communities to serve the Capitol Hill neighborhood and Seattle. So the opportunity to join the Capitol Hill Theology Pub to hear the story of a man that claims Christ as Lord, in ministry, and living the Gay lifestyle was a wonderful opportunity to listen and grow in understanding the mission field God sent us to.

As missionaries we spend a lot of time listening, perceiving, sensing, and praying. All for the purpose to grow in understanding, compassion, love, and service to a community that needs grace a lot more than it needs judgment. This was the heart of Christ, so it is ours. We believe we are here to love a city, not change a city. To dwell in faithful presence with our city, living among them, modeling Christ to them, and serving them. Our desire is that the gospel be the message of good news, not only through verbal proclamation, but through action; displayed by our lives as we live in community with our city.

At the Pub, David shared for about thirty minutes, the story of his life from birth to now. He wasn’t using scripture, teaching, or promoting the gay lifestyle, he just shared his story. His upbringing, adolescent awkwardness, the shame he felt for his sin, the guilt of trying to be someone he never felt normal about being. Basically the same story we all have. Honestly, I said to myself, “Maybe I’m gay, I feel like he’s telling my life story.” Giggling on the inside of course, thanking God that I wrestled with different temptations in my life. But realizing, my temptations aren’t that different at all, just not towards the same sex.

He didn’t focus on any of the things some who read this are waiting for me to share so you can make your opinion known. But listening isn’t about making your opinion known and Joe and I came to listen. And after listening, we left having compassion for a man we’d never met. Who was open about who he is, transparent with his temptations, open about his doubts, confessing that there are scriptures he wished weren’t in the Bible that he could just ignore, and confessing that he needs to be at diverse events like this because everyone in his life agrees with him and he’s never challenged to think differently by others. A confession I’ve never heard any pastor confess to in my 12 years of vocational ministry.

I was full of hermeneutical questions. I wanted him to explain his views of the Bible, so I could study those further in hopes of being able to make him like me. Where deeper study is my job, making people like me is not. Nor do I have the power to form people into the image of Christ. But our faith doesn’t call for that, our faith in the God of the Bible is completely dependent on God, he is the change agent. It is his Spirit that transforms us, making us into the image of Christ. His son that did the work of the cross, taking our sin on himself, paying our penalty. It is his spirit that is working in us for daily transformation.

Who am I to judge a man I just met? I don’t know where he is, where God has him in the transformation process. I sat and listened to a man that truly exuded transparency, love, and grace. Hearing his story and relating to his pain overshadowed labels or stereotypes and allowed me to see him for what he really is: God’s creation. A man in need of a savior just like I am in need of a savior.

I believe we see through scripture that each person is made in the image of God; the future children of God waiting to be shown their adoption. We all reside on this earth bearing that image to different levels of distortion. God is well pleased with his creation, he loves it. Even before we are regenerate, transformed, born again. This is the common ground we come from when we live as sent ones on the earth; missionaries and ambassadors for Christ:

2 Cor 5:16–21 (ESV) 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

We have been given the ministry of reconciliation. Pointing creation home, declaring the message that they have been made acceptable to God.

I fear in my zeal, I may have communicated in a way that promoted a defensive attitude, and for that I apologize. I hope it was my communication blunder, not our own self-righteousness causing us to only see the post here to the left, rather than the other one that was meant to inspire us to listen to the mission field, walking with one ear to humanity and the other ear to God so that we can act by the spirit, not by pride.

this blog was written with Joe Hunch @joehunich

Leviticus 25:35–38 (ESV) | Kindness for Poor Brothers
35 “If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. 36 Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you. 37 You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit. 38 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.

Jesus said to his disciples…

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” - John 13:34–35

When one of us is down, we pick up the other. Bearing one anthers burdens is the joy of the community of Christ called the church. We do this, not for charity, but for love. This is the rhythm of our lives together.

Our lives are a mission. Not a project. To be lived out by what we can give to our neighbors not to ourselves.

Paul, right before he was martyred:

2 Tim 4:6, 7 NLT
As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.